Legislation passed to protect children and parents if separated

(FOX40.COM) — Parents and children, particularly immigrant and mixed-status families, will have resources and tools to prepare for potential separation.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom passed Assembly Bill 495, authored by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez, to ensure that children and their families feel safe.

“Our children deserve to feel safe at home, in school, and in the community,” Newsom said. “We are putting on record that we stand by our families and their right to keep their private information safe, maintain parental rights and help families prepare in case of emergencies.”

To prevent unnecessary trauma, the bill is meant to strengthen family stability, support parents’ rights and ensure that schools and agencies are equipped to support families in times of crisis. 

“I am grateful that the Governor has signed AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, into law today. This is a crucial step toward protecting children and families at a time when they are facing the terror of separation,” Rodriguez said. “By creating additional protections and tools that strengthen parental rights and community preparedness, we are ensuring that no child is left without a safety net and reinforcing California’s commitment to safety and compassion for all families,”

AB 495 ensures that licensed childcare facilities and state preschools will not collect immigration-related information from students and families, and families’ private information is further protected.

The bill also protects parents’ legal rights and supports security for children in case they are separated from their parents due to immigration enforcement. Newsom said the bill supports parents’ rights in the context of a disability, military service and incarceration.